WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sarah Palin's political action committee violated federal election laws with two donations earlier this year and filed a mid-year report with a number of errors in it, according to the Federal Election Commission.

In a five-page letter to SarahPAC treasurer Tim Crawford, the FEC highlights a number of issues with the filed report, including donating more than is allowed to the reelection campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Lisa Murkowski, as well as not providing proper descriptions on how some of the PAC's money was spent.

Contacted by CNN, Crawford said the committee was currently revising the report to fix the errors and said these types of mistakes are not uncommon with FEC filings.

"A million of these [correction letters] go out every month," Crawford said. "They send out a lot of them.

A spokesman for the FEC said its standard practice for all reports to be reviewed, but would not estimate how many PAC's usually have to file corrections.

Specifically, the FEC notes SarahPAC gave $5,000 to McCain and Murkowski's primary campaigns - $2,600 more than is allowed for a PAC of SarahPAC's designation to give to a primary effort. SarahPAC also designated the donation for the senators' 2009 primary when in fact the primaries are in 2010.

To fix the error, Crawford said the PAC will allocate $2,400 to the senators' primary campaigns and $2,400 to the general election effort as is allowed under election laws. The PAC has also obtained a $200 refund from both campaigns to make up the difference.

"We essentially gave $200 too much," Crawford said. "We have since redesignated with both committees."

Crawford attributed some of the mistakes to being a new PAC and also noted FEC software that was supposed to flag mistakes when reports are initially submitted showed no errors with their filing.

"We filed what we thought was perfectly right," Crawford said. "If there is a violation, the FEC won't accept the report, but ours was accepted with no warnings or violations."

soundoff(301 Responses)

Steph

We already know she's not capable of running the state of Alaska, managing a schedule or forming a coherent sentence. So, please stop the daily announcements of Palin's incompetence. Feel free to pick back up if she attempts to run for public office again. Until she makes that horrible decision, stop reporting on her daily mishaps.

August 28, 2009 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

once upon a horse

ho hum..another Palin story....300 comments coming up!

August 28, 2009 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

Art Michaelson

Who gives a DIDDELY SQUAT about this air-head from ALASKA. PLEASE go away not soon but now

August 28, 2009 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

Rob

When you start talking about the people the Republican party has given us, please remember Ronald Reagan with the rest of those great people. When slinging mud there is always another side:
Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Waxman, Harry Reid, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, whats his name Murtha, Diane Fienstien, Charley Rangel and the list goes on. We are fighting amongst ourselves. It really needs to stop. Don't let us be divided and conquered. With the exception of Mr. McCain all of the people you mentioned are out of office. Look at the list above and decide what needs to be done

August 28, 2009 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

nobama

After all of the work CNN has done to discredt Beck, it is just reported he is the NUMBER ONE cable show. No doubt the Obamists will be getting to bring their guns (literally and in Obama's on words) to this knife fight. CNN has helped create a situtation that is now spinning out of their and Obama's control.

August 28, 2009 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

Florida Joe

Her excuse sounds very similar to Gov Sanford. He says, "others did worse" her spokesperson says "a lot of people get these letters"
Give me a break..........and McCain thought she was fit to be VP? She can't even keep up with her PAC, can't manage her own family..how could she have been VP John??? Unbelieveable...........She needs to dry up and go away

August 28, 2009 12:13 pm at 12:13 pm |

John in Tampa

The amounts are not significant, but anyone who manages such things for a living needs to be careful-especially knowing how many are watching. If I were in Ms. Palin's camp and did this for a living, by now I would be so paranoid I'd be asking the Pope's blessing (and the FEC's) before I made any deposits OR donations.

Oh, when will her embarrassments end? Answer, when she QUITS politics altogether.

August 28, 2009 12:13 pm at 12:13 pm |

Reggie Gabr, Independent

Right, and what Obama's cronies did is of no interest...liberals here are like vultures picking on SP. While what ACORN did and will do is VERY HARD to notice for liberals. When the government is as anti american and pro-islamic, pro-marxist as it is now, no wonder CNN and MSNBC like vomit is polluting the air, give Sara Palin a break and look what YOUR PRESIDENT is doing!!

August 28, 2009 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

A Wyoming Democrat

Why am I not surprised? Everything that has to do with Palin reeks of lies and deceit.

August 28, 2009 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

Carole

This is news? This is the hate mongering racist that tells her followers to 'listen' to Beck on Fox?

Let's just call a spade a spade..........she is an uneducated wingnut, trailer trash, out to lunch........and so on.

August 28, 2009 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

Randolph Carter the evil narcissistic Obamabot

The republicans need to get rid of the hate and misinformation to reach people. My suggestion: cute lil' cartoon characters. Think about it. You could have Bucky. He'd be a talking one dollar bill who would talk about the deficit. There'd be Pilly who would discuss healthcare. And, of course, Cactusy who would stand in the desert and talk about immigration reform while little stereotypical cartoon Mexicans with sombreros sneak past him. People would dig it and as a bonus, the little kids who watched it would grow up to vote republican. You can come up with your own, too. Have a nice day!

August 28, 2009 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

Mitch

The advice she was given was to surround herself with competent people and get out and speak.

Well, this should give insight into the type of politician she is.

How many events had her listed as a headline speaker for months, then a couple days before it's cancelled because her people 'never heard of it'. REALLY?

Now her PAC can't even manage it's reports and over contributes to two campaigns. HOW CAN YOU OVER CONTRIBUTE?

So for you Obama haters....answer this. By herself, would you seriously think she's even capable of being a federal politician? If you say yes....well, 'you might be a redneck'.

August 28, 2009 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

yoyolite

For all those people who wants Palin to be president, God have mercy on your soul and America.

August 28, 2009 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

Mark, Philadelphia

First, I am just absolutely amazed at how fixated CNN is one every little tidbit about Sarah Palin. She is being scrutinized beyond comparison with any other public figure I can recall. With CNN's reporting, you'd think no other public figure ever had a schedule mix-up (happens often with other politicians also) and never filed a report in error (uh...some leading Democrats with their tax returns). And, I'll tell you one thing, it doesn't move my opinion of her one way or the other, but it certainly moves my opinion of CNN - further to the negative.

I am also shocked and deeply disappointed to see so many people talk about Sarah Palin so disparagingly. What has she done to you to make you talk about her in the most vial sort of way, and what have you accomplished in your own lives that makes you so much better than her? For most, it seems, they must put another down to help elevate themselves.

Such glib comments from so many people, and you don't even have the sense or decency to be ashamed of yourselves!

August 28, 2009 12:15 pm at 12:15 pm |

inofritzn

Jeez CNN, Palin may have to get a restraining order on you. I think you have an obsession. New CNN show: Sarah Palin 360 24/7/365

August 28, 2009 12:15 pm at 12:15 pm |

Sunny Guy

Did Fox News not report the infraction?
Are they supressing the news?
Sort of like living in Communist Russia or China then.
Is than what Palin and the Wing Nuts stand for?
Then don't pretend to be American - it don't fit.

If they did report the news, then are they also trying
to make Palin "look bad"?

You can't have it both ways, pal. I think you need
to think the whole scenario over, and try again.

Sunny Guy

August 28, 2009 12:16 pm at 12:16 pm |

mjm

I love how Palin haters are trying to make this a big deal.

Compare this to Turbo Tim Gietner and Charlie Rangle and Democrats might want to shut up a bit.

August 28, 2009 12:16 pm at 12:16 pm |

Moderate Democrat

So what is it Republicans: Is it

"we need to follow the law" as you post in the Kennedy appointment/election article...or is it

"Not conforming to the Law is a good thing since Sarah is the one breaking it"?

I'm just trying to figure out if all of you total hypocrites or if atleast ONE of you believes in what you say when you write it. Face the facts, her PAC screwed up, she has dummies working for her. If thats how she runs things, then she's a complete moron!

August 28, 2009 12:16 pm at 12:16 pm |

A million of these [correction letters] go out every month

so why the need to make it news?

How about "SEC tries to catch financial crooks"? Or "SEC does its job"?

Now that would be news I'd like to read, catch these guys bilking the public.

August 28, 2009 12:17 pm at 12:17 pm |

Simon says

Moose/Palin 2012

August 28, 2009 12:17 pm at 12:17 pm |

david, CA

it's the media's fault. right?

August 28, 2009 12:18 pm at 12:18 pm |

Richard L

"A million of these [correction letters] go out every month,"

WOW! A million a month!

Typical of the integrity we have come to expect from the Palin camp.

August 28, 2009 12:19 pm at 12:19 pm |

Dan

Its not news to anyone that math is not Palin's strong suit...

August 28, 2009 12:19 pm at 12:19 pm |

john

NEVER TRUST A REPUBLICAN!
And to think Palin would have been VP, and later President... What a disaster it would have been. –I think "Larry the Cable Guy" would have been a better choice.

August 28, 2009 12:19 pm at 12:19 pm |

felicia

Tom please, you would have a fit if palin was elected President, stop being so white, loser